Officials and supervisory employees shall appoint, assign and promote personnel on the basis of merit and fitness, without regard to actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, age or familial status, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. Each appointing authority shall designate an affirmative action officer. The officer must be so placed within the agency’s organizational structure that the officer has direct access to the appointing authority. Each department or agency shall prepare an affirmative action program for that department or agency in accordance with criteria set forth by the Bureau of Human Resources. [PL 2021, c. 553, §2 (AMD).]